Sea levels much higher than previously thought due to "methodological blind spot," study finds
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- A new study published in Nature reveals that previous research underestimated baseline coastal water levels by about 1 foot on average due to a "methodological blind spot" in measuring sea and land altitudes, particularly affecting regions in the Global South, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia.
- This underestimation means that rising sea levels could threaten up to 37% more land and put 77 million to 132 million additional people at risk of flooding by the end of the century, complicating planning and mitigation efforts.
- The study highlights the discrepancy arises because many assessments assume sea levels without accounting for dynamic factors like waves, tides, and currents at the coastline, leading to inaccurate baseline measurements where land and sea meet.
- While some experts caution that the
